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PCP Insists on Passage of Electoral Bill, Threatens Boycott of 2023 Election
By Eric Elezuo
The People’s Coalition Party (PCP) has called on the National Assembly to expedite action in the passage of the Electoral Bill that allows for electronic transmission of election results, lambasting some lawmakers for kicking against the bill.
A statement signed by the Chairman of the party, Don Anthony Harmattan, advised members of the National Assembly to ensure that the bill is passed in order not dash the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians for a free m, fair, equitable transparent and credible election.
He knocked the lawmakers, especially those of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC and of northern extraction on bogus claim that some parts of the North has network issue with various telecommunications companies.
The party further threatened to call for a boycott of the 2023 elections if the electoral bill is not passed before for the election.
Below is the detailed statement:
It has come to the notice of the Peoples Coalition Party PCP that some group of unpatriotic members of the National Assembly, especially APC members are bent on dashing the hopes and aspirations of the Nigerian people from realizing their dreams of seeing a free fair, equitable, transparent and credible election Which can only be achievable through the passage of the new electoral bill that allows for electronic transfer of election results during elections come 2023, which was packaged by INEC and sent to the national assembly in which the electoral committee in NASS has refused the electoral transmission of election results on a bogus claim that some parts of the North has network issue with various telecommunications companies. A bogus claim that has the intention of scuttling the desire of Nigerians to have a credible election devoid of election rigging, thuggery, stuffing of ballot boxes and changing of electoral figures at the polling units which is why Nigerians have not had a responsible government since civil democratization.
Those who think they will rule forever and wish to continue to ferment trouble by rigging the votes of Nigerians should look at where the PDP are today. The PDP had all the opportunity in the world to make good laws that will bring about free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria but willingly refused to do what was right on the basis that they will rule for 60years, Today where are they? Therefore political Parties who wish to continue to bring ant infested firewood will have the lizards and all kinds of reptiles as their visitors. May we remind you and your sponsors once more that power is transient , And what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.
The Peoples Coalition Party PCP is using this medium to call on well meaning Nigerians , all stakeholders, Political parties, CSOs and the European Union to insist on APC members not to hinder the passage of this noble bill that makes electronic transmission of election results compulsory during all future voting.
We the Peoples Coalition Party PCP make bold to state that the only way to put an end to electoral rigging, malpractice, thuggery and violence in the country that have claimed scores of innocent lives and finally restore peace and tranquility will be by the smooth passage of this electoral bill that guarantees electoral transmission of election results in Nigeria. We shall further call for a boycott of the 2023 general election if the wishes and aspirations of the overwhelming majority of Nigerians are tampered with by the blunt refusal to pass the electronic transmission of the election bill by those who don’t wish Nigerians well.
The Oyo State High Court has granted the Peoples Democratic Party approval to proceed with its elective national convention scheduled for November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan, the state capital.
The court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to attend and monitor the exercise, Channels TV reports.
Delivering the ruling, Justice A. L. Akintola issued an interim order permitting the party to continue its convention plans without obstruction.
The decision came after an ex-parte motion filed by Folahan Adelabi against the PDP, its Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum; Governor Umaru Fintiri, who heads the National Convention Organising Committee; and the INEC.
In his ruling on Monday, Justice Akintola held that the claimant presented a compelling case that warranted immediate judicial intervention.
“The motion ex-parte has merit and succeeds as prayed,” the judge ruled, granting temporary reliefs that safeguard the party’s schedule and direct all parties to allow the convention to proceed as planned.
The judge subsequently adjourned the hearing of the substantive motion for an interlocutory injunction till November 10, 2025.
The interim order, issued on November 3, 2025, was sealed by the Oyo State High Court and endorsed by its Principal Registrar, S. O. Hammed.
The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has released the passport of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan following outrage over what she described as an unlawful and politically motivated seizure of her travel documents at a Nigerian airport.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, was reportedly stopped by immigration officers on Tuesday morning, who withheld her passport without any official explanation.
The lawmaker, visibly frustrated, went live on social media to protest the action, accusing Senate President Godswill Akpabio of ordering the seizure.
“I have committed no offence and there is no order from the court to withhold my passport and deny me travelling. The last time this happened, the officer in charge told us that the Senate President, Godswin Akpabio instructed them to withhold my passport and prevent me from travelling because he said each time I travel out of the country, I spoil the country’s image by granting interviews out in international media.
“Please, can you tell them to release my passport and this embarrassment should stop? You have no right to withhold my passport.
“You have no right to deny me exit and entrance into my country. I have not committed any offence and this must stop. No, this must stop.
“As a matter of fact, I think I have to sue you for continuously embarrassing me. No, don’t tell me sorry. Can I please have my passport? You can’t keep doing this to me all the time,” she said.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was recently celebrated her second year in office, described the incident as a continuous pattern of harassment.
She noted that her passport had previously been seized under similar circumstances, only to be released after intervention from someone influential.
The female Senator said, “I’ve been standing here for the past 20 minutes. Why are you doing this? What have I committed? The last time it had to take someone influential to call you to release my passport. That was what allowed me travel.
“Now again, you’re withholding my passport while I’m making calls. Is Godswin Akpabio so important? Why is he overruling boundaries? Godswin Akpabio, the Senate President, has instructed the Comptroller General of Customs to deny me exit, to withhold my passport. This is wrong.
“Yes, I know I have two federal government cases against me, of which the president of Nigeria instructed the AGF to cancel the cases, to withdraw the cases.
“This president, Bola Tinubu, actually spoke with Godwin Akpabio to terminate all the cases against me because he admitted, he agreed that they were politically witch-hunting cases. So there is no reason why my passport should be withheld at the international airport.
“There is no reason why. You have no right to do that, madam. You have no right. You are taking laws into your hands. There is no court order. I have not missed any of my court appearances.
“I have attended all my court sessions. I am not a flight risk. I am not a risk to my country. So why are you treating me like a criminal? Can I have my passport, please? Thank you very much. Sometimes I think you just have to be a rebel to get things right. Then you keep asking Nigerians to be good citizens.
Minutes after her public protest gained traction online, the NIS reportedly bowed to pressure and released her passport.
“If I had not gone public, would you have given me my passport,” she added.
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Would You Rather I Travel with My Enemies’ Children, Wike Defends Traveling with Sons to Official Assignment
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reacted to viral photos showing his sons accompanying him on local and foreign trips, saying he has the right to carry them along.
He argued that his sons, as master’s degree holders, need the exposure.
“What law says that my sons shouldn’t travel? Let the FCT say where they paid ₦1.
“What official matter? Did they sign any document? It doesn’t need to be a personal trip.
“What’s wrong? So, I can travel with anybody from the FCT. I can travel with anybody in Nigeria. I have that right.
“Oh, come on, they have to know how Nigeria is. They have to learn about government,” Wike said on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday.
Asked whether he was teaching them to become politicians, he said, “No, that’s not correct. My first son is a lawyer. He said, ‘No, I’m not going to practice. I want to be a farmer.’
“I said, ‘What do you mean by this? He said, ‘No, this is what I want to do.’ I said, ‘Okay’. What do you do?
“They’ve gone for training in Spain. They’ve gone for training in Lisbon.
“My second son finished from King’s College — a master’s degree in Economics. He said he wants to be in real estate.”
The former Rivers State governor also said he is happy that his sons behave responsibly and give him comfort.
“I’m so happy that I have children who have given me comfort, who have not given me problems.
“Assuming they were somewhere smoking. You would have said, ‘Oh, look at these children now. Who are they? I will not travel with my enemy’s children,” he added.
Wike has been spotted with his sons at official events, including the commissioning of projects in the FCT.
Last week, he was criticised by some Nigerians for taking them to a summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
